Santa Cruz Day Trip: Yosemite National Park

Living in Santa Cruz means not only being close to so many great local spots, but also being just a day trip away from so many incredible spots. Today, we'll be taking a look at the historic Yosemite National Park, less than a four hour drive away from Santa Cruz real estate. Summer is a great time to head out and see the waterfalls, viewpoints and wildlife in this incredible national park, so read on to find out what makes Yosemite one of the best national parks in the country. 

Yosemite Park History

Yosemite National Park was mainly home to indigenous populations until the mid 1800s, when the gold rush brought miners and other settlers to the region. 

However, due to highly unregulated tourism and resource extraction, president Abraham Lincoln was convinced to protect the area to stop undue environmental harm, marking the first time that the American government took measures to protect land for civilian enjoyment.

This also set the precedent for the nation's public park systems, as Yellowstone National Park becomes the first national park nearly twenty years later in 1872 — although it would still be another twenty years until Yosemite officially becomes a national park in 1890.

Since then, Yosemite has grown to be one of the most beloved landmarks in the United States.

Things To Do In Yosemite National Park 

Yosemite is known for being a wealth of incredible natural sights to see. These are just a few of the many reasons Yosemite National Park has pulled in over four million tourists a year. 

Discover Incredible Waterfalls

With more than 25 waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, tourists never get tired of the awesome beauty of these forces of nature. Make sure you take time to see Yosemite Falls — sitting at nearly 2,500 feet, it's the highest waterfall in the North America, and the fifth highest in the world. 

See Natural Wildlife

Being such a large protected natural area, Yosemite National Park is home to plenty of animals, such as black bears, coyotes and bighorn sheep. Consider taking a guided tour to see some of these majestic yet dangerous beasts from a safe distance. 

Take In Breathtaking Views

With so many incredible viewpoints in Yosemite National Park, living just a day trip away makes it easy to come back and take in the ones you may have missed on the first day trip.

Whether you're taking in the magnificent views at ground level with sweeping panoramas, or finding the many viewpoints that look down into the famous valley, the many perspectives here will keep you awe-inspired.

Stand With Sequoias

While there are plenty of massive trees in Yosemite National Park, the largest are in the Sequoia groves that can be found here. Amongst these groves, tourists can find some the largest living things on earth, with massive trunks that can grow nearly 10 meters wide and more than 75 meters tall. 

Are you looking to live just hours away from one of the most breathtaking places in the world? Contact me, Lauren Spencer to find incredible Santa Cruz real estate!